Clarksdale, Miss. – Approximately $6 million in investments has been awarded to three projects across three states in the Delta region, thanks to a partnership program between the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Recognized as the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA) program, DRA and EDA have, together, invested $6 million toward three projects located in Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri. The investment was primarily provided through EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program, one of the agency’s most flexible funding programs that provides for a wide range of technical, planning, and public works and infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time.
“The Delta Regional Authority’s ongoing partnership with the EDA allows us to work together to create opportunities that will impact communities across our Delta region,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chairman. “As a result of this partnership, a significant investment has been made toward projects that aim to bolster economic development, workforce development and business development opportunities in four communities within our DRA footprint.”
The Economic Adjustment Assistance program assists state and local entities in responding to a wide range of economic challenges through grants that either support the development, updating or refinement of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or the execution of activities identified in a CEDS, such as infrastructure improvements, including site acquisition, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation and equipping of facilities. Under this program, the EDA can also fund market and environmental studies, planning or construction grants, and capitalize or recapitalize revolving loan funds to help provide small businesses with the capital they need to grow.
In the past four years, from 2020 to 2024, DRA and EDA have collectively invested in five projects, totaling approximately $9.1 million, through the PWEAA program.
“The Economic Development Administration is proud of its continued support of economic revitalization projects that benefit communities throughout the Delta region,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer Ben Page. “These investments in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri will provide infrastructure and workforce development opportunities, creating jobs and building economic resilience in the region.”
The latest recipients of the PWEAA partnership program include:
Arkansas
Wynne Water Utilities was awarded $2.6 million to rebuild the wastewater treatment plant in the City of Wynne, which was destroyed by an EF3 tornado in 2023, to improve residents’ quality of life and to increase economic opportunity in the area with the help of a fully functioning treatment plant.
Louisiana
Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation was awarded $1.5 million to support its AgriAquaculture Center of Excellence, a business incubator and workforce training center that will serve the rural incorporated communities within Jefferson Parish, designed to increase job creation by building economic resilience within small businesses operating in the AgriAquaculture industry.
Missouri
City of Poplar Bluff was awarded $1.9 million to make improvements to the transportation infrastructure within the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park, ensuring safer and reliable roadways for employees and freight trucks accessing the five manufacturing companies within the park, while also attracting news businesses to the park.
For more information about PWEAA, visit www.dra.gov.
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